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Vienna Style Lager
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Vienna Lager
Ranked #38 - ABV:
- 5.3%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #20,420 - Avg:
- 3.79 | pDev: 9.5%
- Reviews:
- 208
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 04, 2023
- Added:
- Jun 24, 2009
- Wants:
- 62
- Gots:
- 163
Vienna-style beers are among the world’s first light-colored lagers and were on the brink of extinction until American craft brewers helped revive the style; it’s a good thing they did. These delicate and extremely balanced amber beers rely on semi-sweet and bready malt flavors but walk a fine line with both malt and hop character shouldering equal weight. Our take on the style features whole-cone European hops, which add to the dry finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BradtheGreat7:
Reviewed by BradtheGreat7 from Ohio
4.08/5 rDev +7.7%
4.08/5 rDev +7.7%
12 oz brown shorty bottle with the typical and awesome ST style label designated to this Vienna Lager. Poured into a standard 12 oz mug.
A - amber in color with near perfect clarity. Hue leans toward dark orange reminding me of a cool Autumn afternoon. Off white head pours with nice size and after some time settles into a splotchey ring of clumped lace leaving excellent stick.
S - bready malts with hints of sweet toffee or caramel notes. Dry floral hops balance the nose nicely.
T - again starting with superb bread like malt notes up front followed quickly by a zap of caramel sweetness. There is a nice buttery honey bread note going on. Floral hops add just enough to make a perfectly balanced lager.
M - on the lighter side, but medium bodied. Nice drinkable lager texture while still keeping the Sierra Nevada goods flowing down. Just a good body with a coating character. More less perfect for the style at place.
O - finally! These are the SN bottlings I've been waiting a long time for. This is an instant top 5 Vienna Lager and a great addition to their New Fall Variety pack. Perfect weather. Perfect brewery. Perfect Vienna Lager. Hopefully it's released every Fall.
Sep 26, 2014A - amber in color with near perfect clarity. Hue leans toward dark orange reminding me of a cool Autumn afternoon. Off white head pours with nice size and after some time settles into a splotchey ring of clumped lace leaving excellent stick.
S - bready malts with hints of sweet toffee or caramel notes. Dry floral hops balance the nose nicely.
T - again starting with superb bread like malt notes up front followed quickly by a zap of caramel sweetness. There is a nice buttery honey bread note going on. Floral hops add just enough to make a perfectly balanced lager.
M - on the lighter side, but medium bodied. Nice drinkable lager texture while still keeping the Sierra Nevada goods flowing down. Just a good body with a coating character. More less perfect for the style at place.
O - finally! These are the SN bottlings I've been waiting a long time for. This is an instant top 5 Vienna Lager and a great addition to their New Fall Variety pack. Perfect weather. Perfect brewery. Perfect Vienna Lager. Hopefully it's released every Fall.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by tracycramer from Texas
4.29/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
I pretty much do not like lagers at all due probably to not getting out much and not knowing what is out there. That said, this is very drinkable. Not the usual sweet lager at all.
Very nice. Enjoyed in Austin 10/20/19.
Oct 20, 2019Very nice. Enjoyed in Austin 10/20/19.
Reviewed by unlikelyspiderperson from California
4.44/5 rDev +17.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +17.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours a beautiful copper tinged amber with a wonderful yellow blushed head, 2 fingers and active, bubbles holding out like almost cooked pancakes.
Smells like a lightly sweetened rustic pastry with just a smidge of caramel. some floral and grassy hints around the edges.
Taste is very light bread with some herbaceous bitterness. very clean taste, not super muddled or overly complicated.
Mouthfeel is excellent, crisp and clean with a decent body mid palate and a nice dry finish.
Overall I get the hype around this one and definitely wish it was a regular presence from SN. Super drinkable with enough character to fit in well as the weather starts to turn. Great beer.
Sep 19, 2019Smells like a lightly sweetened rustic pastry with just a smidge of caramel. some floral and grassy hints around the edges.
Taste is very light bread with some herbaceous bitterness. very clean taste, not super muddled or overly complicated.
Mouthfeel is excellent, crisp and clean with a decent body mid palate and a nice dry finish.
Overall I get the hype around this one and definitely wish it was a regular presence from SN. Super drinkable with enough character to fit in well as the weather starts to turn. Great beer.
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California
3.84/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.84/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours golden copper amber with a frothy off white head that settles to a light layer and leaves some
S: Grainy, slightly toasty bready malt, grassy, herbal, spicy, and herbal notes, faintly fruity, and a touch of honey sweetness.
T: Bready slightly toasty malt, a bit grainy, spicy, herbal, grassy, and earthy notes, a little fruity towards the back end, pear and apricot, and touch of honey sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation, crisp.
O: It might not be my favorite style, but this one is well done.
Dec 11, 2018A: Pours golden copper amber with a frothy off white head that settles to a light layer and leaves some
S: Grainy, slightly toasty bready malt, grassy, herbal, spicy, and herbal notes, faintly fruity, and a touch of honey sweetness.
T: Bready slightly toasty malt, a bit grainy, spicy, herbal, grassy, and earthy notes, a little fruity towards the back end, pear and apricot, and touch of honey sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation, crisp.
O: It might not be my favorite style, but this one is well done.
Reviewed by orcrist_cleaver from New York
3.38/5 rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Light amber-honey in color with an icy haze.
S: Caramel malts are highly represented. White pear, summer's end peach jelly.
M: Light to moderate body propped up some by a its sweet slickness.
T: Lots of honey, sweetened white bread pudding with peach compote; quince syrup. Drier, toastier notes as it warms with some peppery hops as well.
Nov 22, 2018S: Caramel malts are highly represented. White pear, summer's end peach jelly.
M: Light to moderate body propped up some by a its sweet slickness.
T: Lots of honey, sweetened white bread pudding with peach compote; quince syrup. Drier, toastier notes as it warms with some peppery hops as well.
Vienna Style Lager from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
930 ratings
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